Secondary clock



April l, 1930. J. w. BRYCE 1,752,939

SECONDARY CLOCK Filed June 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l d Tam 2h. @LL @13@Home/lgs,

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SECONDARY CLOCK Filed June 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented pr. 1v,1930iv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES W. IBRYCE, OIE BLOOMFIELD, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NTERNATIONAL TIME RECORDING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, OFENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION-A OF NEW YORK SECONDARY CLOCKApplication led June 25, 1925.

This invention relates to secondary clocks and more particularly toelectrically driven secondary clocks which are driven and maintained insynchronism by electrical energy controlled by both a master clock andthe secondary clock.

It has for its object the development of improved features which enablesthe secondary cloch to receive electrical impulses over either one oftwo lines and make use of them according to its chronological conditionof agreement or disagreement with a master clock which sends out theelectrical impulses, and to cause the secondary clocl to be steppedahead if it be slow, or to stop altogether if it be fast for a period oftime equal to the amount that it is fast, and then resume normaloperation. Y

Other objects have in view the improvement of the construction ofsecondary clocks of the class described whereby a compact selfcontaineddriving unit for the hands of the secondary clock is produced whichconsists of a minimum number of parts assembled and designed tofacilitate assembly and to lend itself to ease and preciseness inadjustment.

lVith these and incidental objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and apreferred form of embodiment of which is described hereinafter withreference to the drawings which accompany and form part of thespecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the secondary clock driving mechanism assembly.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the secondary clock driving mechanism assembly.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a detail of the ratchet and ratchetwheel drive for the minutehand arbor as seen from above.

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail of the ratchet and ratchet-wheel driveviewed from the rear.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the electrical contacts viewed from the left ofFig. 1.

Serial No. 39,459.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the frame plate which supports thedriving mechanism.

The secondary clock mechanism is for use in the secondary clocks of thesynchronizing clock system known to the trade as the 1. B. M. or Brycesystem. In this system, a master clock such as that described in myPatent No. 1,390,018 may be used to drive the secondary clocks. For usewith the secondary clocl; about to be described, the master clockcontrols the sending out of all impulses once every minute for theentire hour over one line, land also over another line for a definiteperiod of time during the hour. J ust after the 59th minute a series offast or acceleration impulses are sent out over the former line torapidly advance the secondary clocks that are slow. The period of timepreceding the siXtieth minute impulse is called the synchronizing periodand the master clock is designed to have this period start on theforty-fifth minute impulse. The controlling devices in the secondaryclock about to be described are designed and related to each other so asto cause the secondary clock to be changed over from one line to theother at fourteen minutes past the hour as indicated by the hands ofthesecondary clock. Any other divisions of time for distributing theelectrical energy over dierent lines could be used, but the abovedescribed division has been chosen by way of illustration.

rhe synchronization of the secondary clocks occurs during thesynchronizing period and it is dependent upon the utilization ofelectrical energy sent out in the form of impulses by the master clock.The utilization of these impulses is controlled by devices hereindescribed which are a part of the secondary clock driving mechanism andwhich are dependent in their controlling function on the chronologiccondition of the particular secondary clock with whichl they areassociated. rFliese devices selectively determine whether the secondaryclock shall be con- A drawings, 10 is the main supporting plate for theentire device, and it may be secured to a frame piece, not shown, bymeans of bolts engaging in holes 11. Extending rearwardly from plate 10is a shelf l2 which forms a lower support for the rear plate 13 which isheld in spaced relation to the front supporting plate 10 by means ofrods 14 disposed therebetween. The minute hand arbor 15 is journaled atits forward end in a raisedv portion 16 of the front supporting plateand at its rearward end in plate 13. Mounted on minute hand arbor 15,just in front of raised portion 16, isa small gear 17 which drives gear18 loosely mountediwith pinion 19 on a stud extending from frontsupporting plate 10. Pinion 19 drives gear 20 fast tosleeve 21, looselyjournaled on minute hand arbor 15to which isattached the hour hand. Gear20 and sleeve 2l are kept from longitudinal displacement on the minutehand,y

arbor by means of inger 22 detachably secured to front plate 10. Theremoval of the finger allows for easy removal of gear 2O from a positionin front of plate 1() through the opening in the plate (Fig. 7).

Just forward of the rear plate there is mounted on minute hand arbor 15ratchetwheel 23 subject to be actuated by ratchet 24V pivotally mountedupon the upper end of an armature 25 which is itself pivotally mountednear its lower end by means of hinge pin 26 that rests in a groove inthe bottom surface of clip 27. This clip is fastened to shelf 12 by anysuitable means such as screws 28. Retaining plate 29 is provided tomaintain the hinge pin within its groove.

The lower end of armature 25 is urged in a counterclocliwise direction(Fig. 1) by a spring 30. Vhen electromagnet 31, which is supported fr omthe upstanding end of clip 27, is energized, it attracts armature 25against the tension of spring 30 so as to cause ratchet 24 to moveclockwise and engage the tooth neXt ahead of its idle position. Upondeenergization of the electromagnet, spring 30Yop-erates to advance theratchet-wheel one tooth distance,which movement is limited by theengagement of an ear 32 with the under side of an arm 33 extendingrfromfront plate 10. This engagement causes the ratchet to be wedged againstthe ratchet-wheel and preventsA it from being displaced. Retrogrademovement of the ratchet-wheel and asso ciated parts is prevented by aspringpressed pawl 34 pivotally mounted on rear plate 13.

Adjustably mounted on the rear plate by means of screws 35, 36 is avsupporting plate 37 for the lever arms 38 and 39 which are pivotallymounted on an eccentric bushing periphery of cam 44. Both cams 42 and 44are secured tothe minute hand arbor and are staked together by pin whenthey are accu'- rately adjusted in relation to one another for reasonsthat will appear hereinafter. Lever arms 38 and 39 are held against thecams by springs 46 and 47 respectively.

@n lever arm 38 there is mounted an insulation support for contacts 4and 49. Lever arm 39 carries a blade 50 which is electrically insulatedfroni the lever arm. On the lower side of blade V`there is a resilientblade adapted to coact'with contact 4 8 and another resilient blade onthe upper' side of the blade 50 is adapted to coact with contact 49 whenContact 48 is open. One or the other of these resilient blades maintainsContact Vwith its respective contact while cams 42 and 44 are steppedaround. Cain 42 is designed to allow lever arm 38 to drop on thefifty-ninth minute and close the line connected with contact 49. Atfourteen minutes past the hour, lever arm 39 and blade 50 will drop ottof the high portion of cam 44 and the line connected with contact 48will be closed. The adjustability of levers 38 and 39 by the positioningof plate 37 and adjustinent of the eccentric bushing on bolt 40 makes itpossible to very accurately locate the exact timing to obtain the makingand breaking of contacts 48 and 49 outlined above.

Current is supplied to actuate the above described clock movementthrough two lines, A and B, which are respectively 'connected tocontacts 48 and 49 through binding posts 51 and 52 secured to block Thisblock also carries binding post 54 for the single return wire of thesystem. From this latter binding post a lead connects the electromagnetin series with blade 50 and the position ofv blade 50 and contacts 48andV 49 determines which of lines A or B is connected to supply theelectrical energy to operate the electromagnet. A non-conductingterminal supporting bar 55 is provided for attaching-the leads of theelectromagnet in a convenient location.

. My invention is capable of a wide variation and relationship of partswithout departure from the nature and principle thereof, and l d o notrestrict myself unessentially in the foregoing or other particulars, butcontemplate such alterations and modifications within the scope of theappended claims as may be foundadvisable.

What I claim is- 1. A secondary clock having driving meehanism,`animpulse magnet, synchronizing control means, a minute shaft, andcomprising in combination, a supporting structure which comprises afront plate and'a rear plate, means for supporting the impulse magnetbetween the plates, means also disposed between the plates vforoperating the minute shaft from said impulse magnet, said. minutev shaftextending rearwardly beyond the rear plate, two Contact cams carried onsaid minute shaft in accessible position bemounted back of thesupplementary plate so yond the rear plate, said synchronizing conas tobe in accessible position for adjustment.

` In testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my sigtrol means comprising onearm pivotally mounted in accessible position rearwardly of the rearplate and carrying two contact points and coacting with one of the camsand a second arm also disposed rearwardly of the rear plate and coactingwith the other of said cams and carrying a switch blade, and anotherplate secured to the rear plate for pivotally supporting said arms.

2. A secondary clock structure which includes a driving mechanism withan impulse magnet for actuating the same, a minute shaft, and asynchronizing control means, and including in combination, a supportingstructure including a front plate and a rear plate with provisions forsupporting the impulse magnet and the driving mechanism between the saidplates, said rear plate having provisions associated therewith forsupporting the synchronizing control means in accessible positionrearwardly of said rear plate whereby ready access may be had theretofor inspection, adjustment and repair.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which a binding post block isprovided also mounted upon the rear plate and in accessible positionfrom the rear of said plate for the making of electrical connections.

4. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which the synchronizing controlmeans comprises two contact cams mounted upon an eX- tension of theminute shaft which projects rearwardly beyond the rear of the rear plateso as to be in visible accessible position thereon and contact armscooperating therewith and provided with switching means, and in whichmeans comprising a plate, which is fastened to the rear plate, isprovided for supporting the arms of the synchronizing control means inaccessible position rearwardly of said rear plate.

5. A secondary clock having the usual indicating hands, actuatingimpulse magnet and synchronizing control means, and comprising incombination, a main supporting plate-like frame having an extensiontherefrom, and a supplementary plate spaced from and secured to thefirst mentioned plate, means comprising an L-shaped plate attached to anextension from the rst mentioned plate for supporting the impulse magnetbetween the aforesaid plates, and means for supporting the synchronizingcontrol means from the supplementary plate upon the opposite sidethereof from the said impulse magnet to provide for accessibility ofsaid control means for adjustment, inspection and repair.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5 in which the synchronizing controlmeans comprises a pair of contact controlling arms, and in which meansis provided for adjusting the time of action of said arms, which meanscomprises an eccentric bushing which is nature.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

